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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs.Maria Cristina Gamboa" <personnel@usd308.com>
Reply-To: "Mrs.Maria Cristina Gamboa" <mrs.mariacristinagamboa@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:12:01 -0500 (CDT)
Subject:


Let me start by introducing myself,I am Mrs.Maria Cristina Gamboa , REGIONAL
AUDITOR OFFICER BANCO DE ORO UNIVERSAL BANK.I am writing
you this letter based on the latest development at my bank, which I will
like to bring to your personal edification.I am a top official in charge of
client accounts in (EQUITABLE PCI BANK) which is now BANCO DE ORO UNIVERSAL
BANK inside the Philippines.the merger was late(2007).The merger is part
of a long-term goal
of Banco de Oro to become one of the largest names in the
Philippine banking
industry.
In 2001, my client was going through a horrendous divorce
in the United
States of America and was on the verge of losing most of
his estate to his
vicious and diabolical wife.He transferred some funds, ten
million two
hundred thousand ollars ($10.2m) to a fixed deposit account
in my bank under
an alias which only the two of us knew about as the
confidentiality of the
matter was necessary for his protection.
>
Due to his untimely death in early 2002, the funds have
been sitting in the
account ever since and will continue to do so perpetually
unless we do
something about it. My client did not declare any next of
kin in his official
papers including the paper work of his bank deposit.
Against this backdrop,
my suggestion to you is that I would like you as a
foreigner to stand as the
next of kin to our client so that you will be able to
receive his funds.The
allocation of our money will be as follows: 30%($3.06m) to
you for your part
in this, 70% for me. Again, I will be in charge of
everything else.If you are
interested in working with me please contact me via my
private e-mail
(mrs.mariacristinagamboa@yahoo.com.hk)for
further details.
>
Mrs.Maria Cristina Gamboa

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